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Impact of clinically evident portal hypertension on the course of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients listed for liver transplantation
Author(s) -
Faitot François,
Allard MarcAntoine,
Pittau Gabriella,
Ciacio Oriana,
Adam René,
Castaing Denis,
Cunha Antonio Sa,
Pelletier Gilles,
Cherqui Daniel,
Samuel Didier,
Vibert Eric
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.27864
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , gastroenterology , esophageal varices , cirrhosis , liver transplantation , portal hypertension , risk factor , tumor progression , transplantation , ascites , varices , cancer
Liver transplantation (LT) is the best curative treatment for early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis. However, the current shortage of organs causes prolonged waiting times and poorer intention‐to‐treat (ITT) survival (i.e., after listing) owing to tumor progression and dropout. Portal hypertension (PH) is a recognized risk factor of HCC development in patients with cirrhosis and its recurrence after resection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential impact of PHT on the results of LT on an ITT basis. Patients with cirrhosis listed for LT for HCC were included and their outcomes after listing were compared according to the presence or absence of PH defined as presence of esophageal varices or ascites or low platelet count and splenomegaly. Among 243 consecutively listed patients, 70% were affected by PH, which was associated with a significantly higher risk of tumor progression (38% vs. 22%; P = 0.017) and a higher risk of dropout (22% vs. 8%; P = 0.01). Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was similarly applied to the two groups (60% vs. 67%; P = 0.325). An absence of TACE was the only other independent risk factor of dropout owing to tumor progression. Under an ITT analysis, PH reduced overall survival (OS), but there was no difference in OS and time to recurrence post‐LT. The only pathological feature that could potentially explain this observation was the lower complete response to TACE in the PHT group (12% vs. 36%; P = 0.001). Conclusion: PH should be regarded as a major risk factor of dropout owing to tumor progression and should be taken into consideration when managing patients with HCC who are waiting for LT. (H epatology 2015;62:179‐187)